Tony Walsh – author & tours through Arabia
Gearing up for a late Autumn opening is the Kempinski Muscat. The hotel is one of the key tenants of Al Mouj Muscat the residential enclave in the west of Muscat.
Like AlMouj, the Kempinski Muscat’s ultimate owner is Oman’s government though Omani Hospitality Company. Set on the community beach that extends for a couple of kilometres towards AlMouj Golf, the PGA Continue reading “Kempinski Muscat should open late 2017”
Just before Christmas, I chatted with Bill Padley
on his morning radio show on ‘Talk Radio Europe‘. We talk hotels, Camels, Date Trees and more. Listen to Tony here on SoundCloud. <<click here.
Oman’s Salam Air will be commencing flights to Dubai
on the last day of February 2017. There will initially be 2 flights in either direction at initial published prices from Rial Omani 21.600 one way (check for lower promotional pricing). Salam Air will be one Continue reading “Omans Salam Air to start Dubai flights”
With a Tax spend towards car transport of GBPound33Billion the United Kingdom still lags behind countries in The Gulf in terms of their repair state
with the UAE rated as Continue reading “Oman’s Roads are better than Britain’s says report”
With the days still not too hot and the evenings pleasantly warm March is a fantastic time to get out and about for Oman’s Top 5 things to do in March.
The month usually has world-class performers at the Royal Opera House – past performers have included Anna Netrebko and a rising star Yusif Eyvazov. This March enjoy Lakme the opera by Léo Delibes with the wonderful “Bell Song” ( L’air des Clochettes)
and “Flower Duet” (Duo des fleurs – known the British Airways theme after it was used in their adverts – the video is a superlative performance by Sabine Devieilhe & Marianne Crebassa – who are not performing in Oman)
Oman’s Ministry of Tourism has issued agreements for the development of 11 tourism accommodation projects throughout the country.
Leading the way is a substantial plot to be developed by the Oman Government’s ‘Oman Investment Fund’. The size of the plot in Al Jabal Al Akhdar, 73,367sqm is comparable to the plot developed by an Oman pension fund and operated by Anantara and about 50% of the land area available to Alila, the new property will be the mountain’s 3rd luxury hotel. Al Jabal Al Akhdar’s room offering has grown from a single 22room hotel in 2011 to 4 hotels with 10times the number. The government intend
the mountains of Al Jabal Al Akhdar which Continue reading “Eleven new tourism accommodation plots allocated in Oman”
Iran is rapidly become a key element in Oman’s economic and political future. On Wednesday 15th February 2017 Iranian President Rouhani will pay a brief visit to Sultan Qaboos in the morning before flying to Kuwait, which is the next chair of the GCC. Both Oman and Kuwait have important Shia Muslim populations, in Kuwait these are focused in business; my employer in Saudi whose family is Shia being perhaps the largest private company in Kuwait.
In Oman however Continue reading “President Rouhani to visit Sultan Qaboos on Wednesday 15th February”
The new port at Ad Duqm, some 500kms by road south of Muscat is rapidly becoming the most active economic area in Oman. From a town that a few years ago had no Bank, it was developed by the Oman government
in co-operation with Koreas Daewoo into a dry-dock to take advantage of the tankers and container ships that use the sea route about 50kms off the port. Since then Continue reading “Ad Duqm Port and Economic Zone”
Oman will soon have one or two new entrants into its Taxi world.
Oman’s traditional unmetered Taxi service is in an Orange & White colour and has Continue reading “Taxis in Oman”
Chilly weather and disruptions on some tube services didnt seem to have made a dent in the attendance for the Destinations Show,
the Business to Consumer holiday exhibition, in Continue reading “Destinations Show 2017”
Oman’s Al Bustan Palace, though remaining open throughout 2017 will have restricted room bookings for 7 months. There will be limited number of rooms available from 1st March – 30th November 2017 and no room bookings at all between 1st May 30th September 2017.
This Oman government owned hotel last Continue reading “Al Bustan Palace to have room closures during 2017”
With its long coastline Oman has numerous coast creeks and bays which are important resources for sea life and birds.
Birdlife has Continue reading “Oman’s Ramsar Sites”
Details of the 2017 Tour of Oman have been announced. The race from 14th-19th February will have 6 stages and 18 teams are expected to take part incl from USA, Bahrain & UAE; but not from UK (perhaps the lack of a race in Doha has impacted here) or surprisingly Oman.
While each stage has its appeal – the two stand outs are
Stage 5 that climbs Continue reading “2017 Tour of Oman”